Got Papi? (Papacito)

Just a quick note to post a picture from my trip to Machu Picchu.

What a mind-boggling experience. Just amazing.

- DaveFer

Well, here I am. Arrived at 6.30 am, shitty trip.

I am slightly underwhelmed with Máncora. Although that is probably MY fault. I was expecting a little bit of Grand Cayman, more like the earthy parts of Key West.

No diving or sport fishing here. Thinking of heading up to Punta Sal (a few miles CLOSER to the equator) to find a hotel there. But all my friends are staying here in Máncora, so I may stay here and dive there.

Enjoying my book very much (Amor en los tiempo de cólera).

More in a bit.

I’m thinking of hitting Mancora for Thanksgiving. Maybe bring my cutie if she can take off (not a Holiday here in Peru).

I am seriously planning a live-aboard dive vacation in the Galapagos this summer (Dec-Feb).

The problem is that I’ll be traveling solo. Live-aboards charge a 50% surcharge for solo travelors.

Would be interesting to connect with another diver to arrange a double-occupancy trip and save money.

I know that’s a terribly risky venture, but I might consider it if I developed some real “confianza” with someone in advance. I would have the dive operator arrange the payments seperately so as to avoid any trickery.

I’m serious about this trip. Are you? Are you trust-worthy and reliable?

Not looking for a sex relationship. But would like someone to stick with for the trip. But who knows what might develop.

None of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers could afford such a trip. (Would be several $k in costs.)

I am very trust-worthy and docile. My worst character trait is that I snore.

Any suggestions?

.DaveFer (www.davefer.net)

PS – I am a PADI certified divemaster

Very fun place in Miraflores, Lima, Peru.

If you need to feel like you are back in the USA for a few minutes, hit LarcoMar. It is located at the end of Avenida Larco where it hits the ocean.

The mall is sunken about 2 stories below street level on a high bluff that overlooks the sea hundreds of feet below. Paragliders often pass in front of the mall as they surf air currents rising up the bluff.

Fun place with several discos, KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut, sushi and iced cream places also. And a movie theater.

Trujillo has one of the most beautiful Plaza de Armas I have ever seen (and I have seen a few).

Since Trujillo is the capital of the department of La Libertad, the plaza there has a statue of Liberty. The interesting thing is that their statue (a gift from Australia) is a male. We all know that Liberty has always been depicted as a female (hence LA Libertad – feminine).

One taxi driver explained to me that in Peru´s machista society, a statue of a half-naked female muse would not be appreciated. So their statue is of a male muse. Go figure.

Great place. A little touristy, but not bad.

Got stuck there for 2 weeks when I sprained my ankle on the beach. Couldn’t carry my backpack for about 2 weeks.

Finally the bartender at my hotel told me, “I will fix your ankle and you will walk in 2 days no problem. If not, you will be lame for a month or two”.

The local pharmacist told me “Yeah, I know him. He’s amazing, he is a physical trainer for the soccer team in Lisboa, he tends bar in the off season.”

So I let him work on my ankle. He almost killed me with the pain, I took a swing at him with my cane. But true to his word, I was able to carry my pack in 2 days.

This is THE place to fly fish in South America.

Junín is not very touristy, but a very cute, sleepy pueblo surrounded by several of the best trout waters in the southern hemisphere.

The Rio Chimehuin runs right thru town. A few clicks away is the Rio Malleo and the Rio Aluminé (Rio Collón Cura).

If you want an adventure, take the road up along the Malleo toward Paso Tromen and the Volcano Lanin. I stopped in at an “encampamiento” on the Mapuche Indian Reservation where I fished every day. The Mapuche people amazed me—I was moved by their curiousity about me and my life. One of the moments that inspired me to join the Peace Corps.

- DaveFer

Great Sandwiches and lattes.

Free wireless broadband.

Friendly American owner married to a Peruvian national.

Count on running into Peace Corps volunteers and wannabees there.

To cut several hours off my trip, I took a smaller, much cheaper bus from Chimbote to Huaraz.

INSANE. The first three hours, I wanted the bus to break down so I could beat the piss out of the driver without causing an accident. Afterward, he slowed down and I was happy that he cut so much time off the trip.

We were on single-track mud roads with 0 guard rails and dropoffs of thousands of feet in the Andes mountains. It was amazingly frightening at 3.00 am.

We stopped for a pee break at 14,000 ft. in the middle of the night.

Huaraz is a great town, I highly recommend a visit there. Take the MovilTours bus from Chimbote or Trujillo or Lima. Very comfortable and sane.